TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HELENA WORLD JANUARY 7, 1918 P. 5
Camp Beauregard, La.
Jan. 1, 1918.
Dear Mother:
I see that it has been pretty cold up there. The thermometer has stood around 23 for quite a while down here, but yesterday and today have been warm enough to go without blouses. I hope it stays this way. I am writing this in the K.C, hall. This is for the first time I have been here, although our quarters are only about a quarter of a mile distant. I find it a very nice place–magazines of all kinds to read and plenty of writing materials and long desks to write on.
Our work is getting harder now. We start in at seven in the morning and quit at five in the evening with two hours rest at noon. We have a good deal of setting up exercises. I do not think much of them, especially for a soldier. It will grow more difficult and strenuous from now on and better results will be seen. As this is New Year’s Day, we have a holiday. Of course all the boys are glad, but the more holidays we have the less work we will get done, and our condition won’t be any better, for the boys certainly do eat on holidays.
I saw in the World that Brother had come home again. I certainly wish II could come. It is possible that none of us can come home until we have completed our sixteen weeks of intensive training. I am almost sure that when I do come I can stay ten or twelve and possible fifteen days.
I received the sweater from Mrs. Warfield all right. Thank her for me. I surely do appreciate it, for it has been very cold here. By mistake I sent the sweater Mutter this grandmother made for me to the laundry and it “shrinked” up so that I can’t get it on. So Mrs. Warfield’s sweater comes in just right.
Matrinia, couldn’t you manage to send me a box of eats? How about that brown bread with raisins in it? That surely is good. Couldn’t you manage for a fruit cake? Another jar of fig preserves would go good about now. Just send anything you think I would like. You know I like to keep stuff in my war chest and get a little whenever I want it. A little something to eat after drill hours makes a fellow feel better.
You ought not to listen to all the tommyrot you hear. No, there have been no cooks killed and no one has been poisoned within the last month or so, anyway. Things are running along smoothly now.
What’s the matter that I don’t hear from any of the girls? I wrote Helen a good while ago and have not received a letter “since here I’ve been.”
I see in the World that there are a few dances in Helena. The band plays dance music and it surely makes me want to be back home. I haven’t danced in nearly five months. Did you ever go that long without dancing when you were a girl?
Please write soon and tell everybody else to write.
Your son,
WM. P. BURKS
Machine Gun Company
154th Infantry, 39th Div.
Camp Beauregard, La.
P. S. I got a fine box of candy yesterday from Daisy: a shoe box plumb full stuffed dates and nuts in it. Fine!
W.P.B.
NOTES: William Pickney Burks was born in Monticello, Arkansas on August 5, 1897 and died on August 31, 1961. He departed New York, NY on June 12, 1918 onboard the Carmania. He was serving as a Pvt. in the 154th Infantry Co. #8 Camp Beauregard June Automatic Replacement Draft.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Camp Beauregard, La.
Jan. 1, 1918.
Dear Mother:
I see that it has been pretty cold up there. The thermometer has stood around 23 for quite a while down here, but yesterday and today have been warm enough to go without blouses. I hope it stays this way. I am writing this in the K.C, hall. This is for the first time I have been here, although our quarters are only about a quarter of a mile distant. I find it a very nice place–magazines of all kinds to read and plenty of writing materials and long desks to write on.
Our work is getting harder now. We start in at seven in the morning and quit at five in the evening with two hours rest at noon. We have a good deal of setting up exercises. I do not think much of them, especially for a soldier. It will grow more difficult and strenuous from now on and better results will be seen. As this is New Year’s Day, we have a holiday. Of course all the boys are glad, but the more holidays we have the less work we will get done, and our condition won’t be any better, for the boys certainly do eat on holidays.
I saw in the World that Brother had come home again. I certainly wish II could come. It is possible that none of us can come home until we have completed our sixteen weeks of intensive training. I am almost sure that when I do come I can stay ten or twelve and possible fifteen days.
I received the sweater from Mrs. Warfield all right. Thank her for me. I surely do appreciate it, for it has been very cold here. By mistake I sent the sweater Mutter this grandmother made for me to the laundry and it “shrinked” up so that I can’t get it on. So Mrs. Warfield’s sweater comes in just right.
Matrinia, couldn’t you manage to send me a box of eats? How about that brown bread with raisins in it? That surely is good. Couldn’t you manage for a fruit cake? Another jar of fig preserves would go good about now. Just send anything you think I would like. You know I like to keep stuff in my war chest and get a little whenever I want it. A little something to eat after drill hours makes a fellow feel better.
You ought not to listen to all the tommyrot you hear. No, there have been no cooks killed and no one has been poisoned within the last month or so, anyway. Things are running along smoothly now.
What’s the matter that I don’t hear from any of the girls? I wrote Helen a good while ago and have not received a letter “since here I’ve been.”
I see in the World that there are a few dances in Helena. The band plays dance music and it surely makes me want to be back home. I haven’t danced in nearly five months. Did you ever go that long without dancing when you were a girl?
Please write soon and tell everybody else to write.
Your son,
WM. P. BURKS
Machine Gun Company
154th Infantry, 39th Div.
Camp Beauregard, La.
P. S. I got a fine box of candy yesterday from Daisy: a shoe box plumb full stuffed dates and nuts in it. Fine!
W.P.B.
NOTES: William Pickney Burks was born in Monticello, Arkansas on August 5, 1897 and died on August 31, 1961. He departed New York, NY on June 12, 1918 onboard the Carmania. He was serving as a Pvt. in the 154th Infantry Co. #8 Camp Beauregard June Automatic Replacement Draft.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD